This camper I've recently adopted has had the front painted and the paint has a dull finish. I'd say it's straight off the gun. I tried some 1200 wet and dry on a section then a bit of cutters and it's come up like glass. Beautiful.
What grade paper should I be using, or what is the correct process to get the new paint shiney.
Thanks
Brad

1500, then cuttin compound.

or if you know theres a bit of paint on it and are confident, 1500 the 2000 and cutting compound.

also it helps heaps more if you know what type of paint is on there so u can use the correct cutting compound.

:sandrine hope it helps,luke

Sounds like you have got it happening already. Keep going, be patiend and you should get a really good result.

What sort/brand of cutting compound are you using Brad?

I used 1500, then 1800 then 2000 and then 3M polishing compound, came up a treat,
That was on 2 pac.

Cheers
Dave

Thanks for the words of wisdom gents.

Chris, it's 3M Rubbing compound. I don't know how good it is. I just borrowed it from the detailers at work. Prob fairly light knowing the sort of paint they're dealing with?

But as Helbus said, which I thought was very logical, it seems to be working so I might just proceed with care.

Have no idea what the paint is or how much of it there is. I was mainly wondering if the 1200 and 1000 I had in the shed was going to be OK, but too heavy huh?

And Dave, do you mean to say you went over that nasty 'ol lunger of yours with three different grades of paper?

Appreciate the help guys

Brad

Brad, can you post more pics, can never have enough pics of splits

cool, thanks Brad, I'm currently doing my decklid...

Here's a couple.

Posted a few when I first got her home and will take some more soon when I tidy her up a bit.

http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=38215&page=1 

You can see how nice the original paint is and how flat the new paint on the nose and leading edge of the doors is. From what I've discovered and learned from you learned gents, I reckon it should come up rather well.

Yes mate, I did spend too much time on the paint.
The reason is I used 2 pac for the strength but I didnt like the orange peel you always get with it so I rubbed it all out.
Believe me it was one hell of a job going over it with 3 grades of wet and dry.

Good luck
Also the 3M compound is fine

Cheers
Dave

4 on the sides and top and an extra one on the front.
I built the thing to last.

Cheers
Dave

its not safe to dry sand 2 pac , if you are sanding 2 pac you should be doing it wet. apparently its not the paint that is dangerous its the chemical hardner that makes the paint go off ,i dont know how true it is apparently dry sanding 2 pac can be fatal????? so i was told by a beater giving me advise whilst i was doing the prep on my bus
nn[ Edited on 15-7-2005 by t2 ]

I used wet and dry, and used it wet.
Came up smooth as a babies bum, and not as smelly.

Cheers
Dave

I just stripped a whole lot of two pack off my bus with a 3m wheel is this dangerous ?

Only if you used the strip wheel on your eye!!!

Like doing anything. it is advisable to wear safety gear like dust masks and goggles. The two pack has catalysed (dried) and is no where near as dangerous as when it is reacting when first mixed with hardener, forming free organic isocyanates. (Bad bad)

Gogles allways, dust masks never. Hate the smell of my own breath. Anyway glad I'm not gunna die.

if ive got 2-3 coats of acrylic straight off the gun, shuld i be using a 1500 wet and dry and then a cutting compund after that for a mirror finish?

do u se circular motions wen using the sandpaper? wats a good technique?

my sandpaper packaging says to use linear stokes, not circular... i thought circular would ensure more even coverage and flatness?

You can sand circular or in straight strokes. It is up to you. Just dont get circular marks or straight marks in what you are doing.

How do you prevent either? By using a bit of common sense and not pushing on the paper like you are trying to remove stains from a sheet

Let the paper do the work and wet your paper using a sponge being squeezed with your other hand. You can use soap in the water if you like, but it does not actually make any difference if the paint is dry and hard. Soap is generally used when the paint is still soft.

Is the idea of the sponge to keep water flowing over the paper to remove/prevent grittier bits scratching the paint?

yep, if the paper isnt lubricvated properly, it can get lumps of sanded paint stuck to them, which inturn scratch the paint - pain in the ass on fairly fresh paint, not SO bad on old cured paint.. but still coarser scratches that what the paper is.. might end up too course to cut out..